The bed and breakfast house was full of everything for 8 people, which was the capacity or guests. So there were lots of dishes. I like dishes anyhow and over the years I collected quite a few sets. It was a natural for the dishes to become part of the bed and breakfast then, but selling them is a totally different cup of soup.

There are lots of black and white modern dishes, some commercial, some patterned, some solid black or solid white and there are hand painted black and white plates and sideplates, mugs, and a large serving plate too. The morning set was a collection of clear glass and orange glass dishes and then there was the Chinese porcelain blue and white set, which was simply not used and has not been since I bought it years ago. I also have my mother's china and my own beloved pottery made for me by a local White Rock potter. I have plates, cups, drinking vessels, tureens and casserole dishes and more in a beautiful pattern of green and swirls that is reminiscent of a meadow to me. And there are all the odd ball dishes that we collect too, both my mother's and mine.

I have copious amounts of bedding too. Sheet sets for 8 beds with a change for each, which includes the mattress protector, fitted sheet, top sheet, pillow cases, duvet, duvet cover, and shams plus decorative pillows for each bed, plus my own three beds.

No wonder I want to sell everything and own nothing. How does one acquire so much stuff? Admittedly, I am a person who does not like to throw out things, nor were my parents. When my mother's house sold, I had only 28 days to pack up and vamoose, so much of what she had came along with me. I simply could not get rid of it all in such a short period of time, though my daughter and I gave a great deal away and tried to sell what we could too. Still, the rest came with me. I needed two houses to put it away!

Now, selling is a chore. I could fill a second hand store. An auction would be a wise move, though with the population in our area way down due to the oil crash, an auction at this time is not feasible. There is no one left to buy. So, I am painstakingly putting things on the internet and trying to get the locals to come out to the farm. I want them to come to my farm store too, because I am hoping to sell things in there over the next 5 years too, though so far, the store has not traffic. A sign will help when I get around to it. In the meantime, some bedding and a few other things, especially furniture, have been selling. The small stuff, like the dishes, I have just listed, so hopefully they will begin to sell to. I do not enjoy the selling part, but everything is too valuable just to give away, and besides there is a lot of money invested in 'stuff' and some can be recouped, I hope.